cannabisnews.com: Bill Would Decriminalize Marijuana Bill Would Decriminalize Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on February 24, 2008 at 05:39:32 PT By Tom Long, Globe Correspondent Source: Boston Globe New Hampshire -- Two first-term state representatives from Nashua have filed legislation to decriminalize the possession of up to 0.25 ounce of marijuana, hoping that New Hampshire might join 12 other states that have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of pot.The bill, which is expected to be voted on by the House next month, would make the possession of such quantities a civil violation that would carry a $200 fine instead of a criminal misdemeanor that could result in up to a year in jail and fines of up to $2,500. "I think the penalty should be reduced. Young people are experimenting, and if they make a bad choice, their conviction shouldn't come back to haunt them later in life," said Representative Andrew Edwards, a 21-year-old Nashua Democrat who cosponsored the bill. "The culture is changing, and I think the law should reflect those changes. Nonviolent drug offenders shouldn't be locked up with career criminals."But Nashua Police Chief Donald Conley, among others, said it would be a mistake to take the sting out of the law."Generally speaking, I don't support it," he said of the legislation. "I think it sends the wrong message. If we say it's OK to possess a small amount of marijuana, some will think it must be OK to use it, and others will think it is OK to sell it."On Feb. 14 , when a working group of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted, 4 to 1, in favor of the lighter penalty, it was the first time in more than 20 years that a group of Granite State legislators had recommended the decriminalization of marijuana. On Feb. 19, however, the full committee voted, 13 to 5, to recommend that the House not pass the law.The bill is scheduled to go before the full House March 5.Representative Jeffrey Fontas, another 21-year-old Democrat from Nashua, who cosponsored the legislation, said he was not surprised the full House committee did not approve the bill. "But we did have an open discussion of the issue."Mistakes early in life, like a possession charge, can be devastating to the futures of our young people," said Fontas, adding that a single drug arrest can lead to the loss of a college scholarship, the ability to serve in the military, subsidized housing, and federal welfare like food stamps.Conley said it is rare for first-time offenders to get jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana."As far as someone getting arrested and their lives being ruined, I don't think that that's the case," he said. "Employers are more forgiving in this day and age, and police prosecutors frequently reduce marijuana cases down to violations. The threat of criminal prosecution gives them leverage to encourage youths to attend a drug rehabilitation program."Hudson Police Chief Richard E. Gendron said he is also opposed to the bill."It's a slippery slope that won't lead us anywhere. I think it will lead to an increase in use, especially among children."Gendron said the law would be difficult to enforce. "I don't think I want my officers to be put in the position of measuring small amounts of marijuana."Matt Simon, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, said it was clear from the House committee's actions this month that legislators "are becoming increasingly concerned about the unintended consequences of marijuana prohibition.""Based on this vote," he said, "it seems discussing sensible marijuana policy still makes some people uncomfortable. But people are talking, and they're realizing the consequences of penalties far exceed the offense they're supposed to correct."Simon said 12 states - including Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio - have passed laws similar to the House bill. In Massachusetts, the possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of as much as $500.Simon said: "We're expecting a lively debate" before the full House.Source: Boston Globe (MA)Author: Tom Long, Globe CorrespondentPublished: February 24, 2008Copyright: 2008 Globe Newspaper CompanyContact: letter globe.comWebsite: http://www.boston.com/globe/ Related Articles & Web Site:NH Common Sensehttp://www.nhcommonsense.org/N.H. Debates Marijuana Decriminalizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23695.shtmlPanel Backs Softer Marijuana Penaltyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23688.shtmlMarijuana Ban Failing Just as Prohibition Did http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23645.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on February 27, 2008 at 17:32:12 PT The Devil Made Them Do It… re: #16“Fire them all and let the devil sort them out.”Seems to me…The Devil has already sorted them out.Re: #17 agreed [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by museman on February 27, 2008 at 14:03:28 PT JohnO grandiose, yes. Pipedream? I guess if you consider I probably realized the total stupidity of the system through the blue haze of herb smoke rising from my pipestone bowl, I suppose that qualifies as a 'pipedream.'Will it ever happen? I believe that ultimately there will be a forced reality check that will put all things in proper perspective, particularly if we (as a race and 'dominant species') continue on the course we seem bound to at this juncture in time.As I have said before, I live in the now, and I want my freedom and liberty now, as well as for my children and their children. As long as I (or we) continue to allow the superimposition of false reality (economics, politics, 'law,' religious moralities -as opposed to common-sense ethics) over the natural real, compromises only benefitting the status quo (and the rich bustards that establish what the status quo is) are the only results I (we) can expect. If I want to wait until I'm dead to get the benefit of some of the wonderful things life has to offer, like cannabis, I'll start supporting the system, and all of it's pretenders to authority and knowlege. Since it is illogical to do that, there is absolutely nothing this system has to offer that is not an inferior compromise to what is possible, if not a total opposite of what is right and good for now and all time.Otherwise, I just have no ethical, logical choice but to be an outlaw, and take my freedom and liberty where and when I can find it, no thanks to the USA, contrary to published propaganda about our 'free country.'And I keep my eyes on the goal, impossible and improbable as it may seem, not stopping for second rate compromises.Truth compromised, is no longer the truth. No matter what you call it, and who claims the authority, the lie remains a lie. Part truth is falsehood, particularly if parts are left out deliberately like they did with the bible, history, and government sanctioned 'research' on cannabis.Truth does not need cops, governments, and/or 'law and order' to be existent, and cops, laws, and governments cannot make a lie more true, no matter how many they imprison, or massacre and destroy in war and class/racial segregation.The concept of 'The Emporer Wears No Clothes' as the title of the most comprehensive text on cannabis available to the public (that I know of) is not just a clever title, it refers directly to the total make-believe 'reality' of the BS that the power elite has been feeding us since Babylon and Sumeria."All men are created equal." is not an empty, ambiguous phrase, it is a simple truth, known by all, but denied profusely by those who were 'born more than equal' under the established parameters of 'racial, class, genetic breeding, and economic claims of 'superiority.'One has to go no further than the top of the economic food chain to find the root cause of all of earth's and mankind's troubles; power and greed. From those two trees have sprouted centuries of darkness. Any concept that justifies the existence of such a thing is merely the compromise that makes the lie. You won't find any of that in my belief system. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by JohnO on February 27, 2008 at 11:44:05 PT: Museman, Fire them all? I'm with you on ending the practise of perennial legislating on new and old issues, a pipe dream no doubt, even more grandiose then merely ending cannabis prohibition. Fire them all and let the devil sort them out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by museman on February 27, 2008 at 07:58:54 PT JohnO What is needed is an END TO LEGISLATION, and a beginning of common sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by JohnO on February 25, 2008 at 13:32:56 PT: What's needed is new legislation to prohibit law enforcers from lobbying for new laws. It's a direct conflict of interest and a waste of resources since their job is to enforce laws. Why are they sitting around sucking on legislators? Who is tending to the needs of the people while these cops are testifying before committees on what they want or don't want to do? It's time to send the right message, COPS, you work for US, get back to work and leave the lobbying to citizens who have needs! JohnO [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Paint with light on February 24, 2008 at 21:35:11 PT Wrong message? A law based on lies sends the wrong message.A law based on punishing people for wanting to feel good sends the wrong message.Pot is less harmful than alcohol.The least we should do is treat them equal. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by runruff on February 24, 2008 at 12:42:04 PT: or.............. LICENSE-duh! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by runruff on February 24, 2008 at 12:39:24 PT: Call it a poetic licence. I know nothing about the man Jim Crow[e]. I used this name to illustrate a certin mind set. How some poeple can push their own prejedices through so called logic and the premise of protecting society from a percieved evil.Whether it is a black person, a jewish person or hispanic ect. Whether it is a benign herb, a man with long hair, light in the loffers or speaks a little differently or a woman in cowboy boots. Somebody will criticize, some will hate and some will want to pass a law against them or it.These are the perceptions of a small mind and should not be allowed to make the rules for everyone to follow.That is the point I was trying to make.I enjoyed the Jim Crow history lesson. Thank you for that Had Enough.Namaste [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on February 24, 2008 at 11:21:48 PT But they could get more "Tools"... “ Gendron said the law would be difficult to enforce. "I don't think I want my officers to be put in the position of measuring small amounts of marijuana."”They could get scales. Really fancy ones that cost us a lot. More tools to help Law Enforcement! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on February 24, 2008 at 11:15:37 PT Two 21 year old Reps in the Legislature? Way to go, New Hampshire! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on February 24, 2008 at 11:14:26 PT The Law is supposed to "Sting"? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Had Enough on February 24, 2008 at 10:49:11 PT History of Jim Crow Creating Jim Crow: In-Depth EssayBy Ronald L. F. Davis, Ph. D.The term Jim Crow is believed to have originated around 1830 when a white, minstrel show performer, Thomas "Daddy" Rice, blackened his face with charcoal paste or burnt cork and danced a ridiculous jig while singing the lyrics to the song, "Jump Jim Crow." Rice created this character after seeing (while traveling in the South) a crippled, elderly black man (or some say a young black boy) dancing and singing a song ending with these chorus words: "Weel about and turn about and do jis so, Eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow."Some historians believe... http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/history/creating2.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by runruff on February 24, 2008 at 10:36:37 PT: Potty -mouths! But Nashua Police Chief Donald Conley, among others, said it would be a mistake to take the sting out of the law."Generally speaking, I don't support it," he said of the legislation. "I think it sends the wrong message. If we say it's OK to possess a small amount of marijuana, some will think it must be OK to use it, and others will think it is OK to sell it."Jim Crowe said,"Generally speaking I don't support any laws that give the negros more freedom. If they think it is ok to be on the streets after sundown they may think it is ok to drink from our drinking fountains and use our restrooms. Next thing you know they'll be in our schools sitting right next to our kids! Therefore I think it would be a mistake to take the sting out of the law!"We will always have idiots like Conoley and Jim Crowe around. We just can't allow them to set policy for our lives, that's alll.Conoley is a budget monger obviously so he automaticlly doesn't count. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on February 24, 2008 at 10:32:47 PT Cops…#3 I know people who have quit their cop jobs because they didn’t like what they saw, and how they had to operate. It seems like the type of people we need for cops are the ones that either quit or get washed out of the ‘program’. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on February 24, 2008 at 10:26:09 PT ???... OK... $$$... More message sending…“But Nashua Police Chief Donald Conley, among others, said it would be a mistake to take the sting out of the law."Generally speaking, I don't support it," he said of the legislation. "I think it sends the wrong message. If we say it's OK to possess a small amount of marijuana, some will think it must be OK to use it, and others will think it is OK to sell it."”Well… OK, now what’s wrong with that…??? I don’t ‘think’ there is a problem with that. Lots of people think pot is OK.If you want to ‘sting’ people how about ‘stinging’ violent criminals instead of making criminals out of peace loving citizens who support the system???How about giving up the 'message sending’ business and get real??? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by museman on February 24, 2008 at 09:51:10 PT John Tyler#1 Yes, I agree. It's always about the money - to the suits and ties, but I submit that to the cops it's really more about petty power over Joe citizen, maintaining their abilities to inspire fear and loathing in america, than the money, it's a well known fact that cops aren't the best paid lackies on record.The WOD empowered the cops more than any law or ordinance ever did, and as their former ethical standards of humanity got thrown out the window, so did the ethical, humanistic cops. I befriended one once in the unemployment line.Bottom line is, money is a power tool to the system administrators, and power is the real commodity of interest to all levels of the beast. A good part of that power is the erroneous belief and trust placed in the system itself by the workers who labor to fill the pockets of the rich and powerful. Without the ones who 'pay the taxes' and feed the system with their very life force 40 hours+ a week, the fat, lazy bastards (at least spiritually if not literally) who run this country and have well established foundations for world empire, would have to go out and spend their time ensuring their own survival instead of riding on the backs of the rest of us. But man, we just gotta have that widescreen High-def, and the car is more than 2 years old for goddsake, and, and, and, and, etc.Why do we think that the rulers are going to allow anything that will diminish their power? As long as we play within the parameters designed, controlled by them, the outcome will always benefit them first, before any of the rest of us see any.People need to get real in the political process, and actually establish a real political process, instead of the hollywood-style auditions we call 'elections.'Retaking the constitution would be a good first step. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Had Enough on February 24, 2008 at 09:02:01 PT He don't think... “ Gendron said the law would be difficult to enforce. "I don't think I want my officers to be put in the position of measuring small amounts of marijuana."”I ‘think’ he is saying this.Nope that won’t do, we want to jail ALL small, non-connected people for ANY amount. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on February 24, 2008 at 08:37:47 PT it's about the money The police are always against cannabis reform but their arguments are so stupid and illogical. One guy wants to keep the “sting in the law”, why? Another guy said, “It's a slippery slope that won't lead us anywhere.” What kind of metaphor is that? Yet he goes on to say that, “I think it will lead to an increase in use, especially among children,” after just saying it wouldn’t lead anywhere. What about the children again? Is that some kind of trump card when you don’t have anything else to say? That is nonsense. He goes on to say that, “"I don't think I want my officers to be put in the position of measuring small amounts of marijuana." So, his cops are wasting their time busting small time users. It is too much trouble to determine a little from a lot. Then they end up saying that a cannabis conviction is actually pretty mild anyway and usually there are no further consequences. So lets keep things the way they are. So, if that is the case… why not do the decrim. thing and make real change? I think it’s about the easy money, Federal and state anti-cannabis funding money, confiscating property money, court fees and fines money. Take this away and budgets will get trimmed. It gets down to fighting over money. The police and related groups are against cannabis reform, their stupid arguments not withstanding, because they are afraid they will lose funding. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment